Waste cooking oil is a resource stream increasingly utilised to generate renewable energy. NISP is working with its member, REG Biopower, to identify suitable input streams for its reprocessing plant that generates energy for the National Grid.
Used cooking oil contains unused energy that can be turned into a renewable fuel. REG Biopower has developed an industry leading process that transfers energy from used cooking oil into carbon neutral electricity. One litre of used cooking oil can produce enough electricity to make 240 cups of tea!
NISP has identified a number of input sources of waste cooking oil for REG Biopwer’s plants from company’s such as Hain Celestial, who supply their fresh and frozen food ranges to the likes of Marks & Spencers. The energy generated at the plant is also being used to power a Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in Norfolk that is run by Freedom Recycling in collaboration with Newport Paper. The MRF is the first in the UK to be completely powered by eco-friendly bio-fuel; meaning it can operate around the clock without the use of fossil fuels. The generator, supplied and operated by ‘Living Power’ (part of the REG Biopower group), uses recycled cooking oils from local authorities, caterers and restaurant chains to produce its power and any surplus electricity is fed back to the National Grid.
Rob Murphy, Operations Director at REG Biopower, said: “Sourcing input streams for our plants is an ongoing challenge. NISP’s insight into regional availabilities of suitable inputs is helping us to optimise the capacity to generate cleaner, greener energy for home and businesses across the UK.”
